Two Retrograde Planets Ring in 2023!
Mercury and Mars are both retrograde as we enter the new year. Both planets encourage a review of 2022 in the signs Taurus and Sagittarius, and the houses they represent in the birth chart.
Fiery warrior Mars remains retrograde in sidereal Taurus until January 12 and communicative Mercury remains retrograde in Sagittarius until January 18. Both planets have extra long transits in these signs, emphasizing these houses of the birth chart.
These are the areas of life to contemplate as Mercury and Mars are retrograde this month. Read for your rising sign! Don't know your Vedic sidereal rising sign (usually different from the western tropical rising sign)? Get it here
Move forward with new plans for these areas of life after the planet in question goes direct!
Mercury relates to communication in these areas of life and Mars connects to where to focus personal energy and courage.
Aries: Mercury - 9th house - Spirituality, philosophy, higher learning, dharma, foreign travels. Mars - 2nd house - Family, savings and speech.
Taurus: Mercury - 8th house - Transformation, partners assets, inheritance, longevity. Mars - 1st house - Self, perspective and health.
Gemini: Mercury - 7th house - Committed partnerships (personal and business). Mars -12th house - Subconscious, dreams, foreign lands, meditation, sleep, feet and places of confinement.
Cancer: Mercury - 6th house - Work, service, daily routine, health and personal habits. Mars - 11th house - Earnings from work, social and career networking and older siblings.
Leo: Mercury - 5th house - Children, creativity, fun and games, speculation. Mars - 10th house - Career and public reputation.
Virgo: Mercury - 4th house - Home, happiness, mother, land and vehicles. Mars - 9th house - Spirituality, philosophy, higher learning, dharma, foreign travels.
Libra: Mercury - 3rd house - Short distance travels, courage, communication and younger siblings. Mars - 8th house - Transformation, partners assets, inheritance, longevity.
Scorpio: Mercury 2nd house - Family, savings and speech. - Mars - 7th house - Committed partnerships (personal and business).
Sagittarius: Mercury 1st house - Self, perspective and health. Mars- 6th house - Work, service, daily routine, health and personal habits
Capricorn: Mercury 12th house - Subconscious, dreams, foreign lands, meditation, sleep, feet and places of confinement.Mars - 5th house - Children, creativity, fun and games, speculation.
Aquarius: Mercury 11th house - Earnings from work, social and career networking and older siblings.Mars- 4th house - Home, happiness, mother, land and vehicles.
Pisces: Mercury - 10th house - Career and public reputation. Mars - 3rd house - Short distance travels, courage, communication and younger siblings.
See the next section for all of the key astrological transits and dates for January.
Key Astrological Events for January
If you do not know your rising sign you can get it on my site for free here.
Moon Phases
Full Moon: January 6 Last Quarter Moon: January 14 New Moon: January 21 First Quarter Moon: January 28
Watch for new and full Moon newsletters to arrive in your inbox one-two days before the event. Sign up here if you are not already on my list. I send 2-3 emails per month to subscribers packed full of valuable astrological info.
PLANETARY ASPECTS
Sign and Nakshatra Ingress (learn the nakshatra basics here)
I have indicated the planetary ruler of each nakshatra to the far right in parentheses and see if you are in the main or sub period of that planet. If so, these planetary nakshatra shifts may be significant for you and your life experience.
Jan 4 MercuryR enters nakshatra Poorvashadha (Venus) Jan 6 Venus enters nakshatra Shravana (Moon) Jan 11 Sun enters nakshatra Uttarashadha (Sun) Jan 14 Sun enters Capricorn Jan 16 Venus enters nakshatra Dhanishta (Mars) Jan 17 Saturn enters Aquarius Jan 22 Venus enters Aquarius Jan 24 Sun enters nakshatra Shravana (Moon) Jan 27 Venus enters nakshatra Shatabhishak (Rahu) Jupiter remains in Utttara Bhadrapada through February 23 (Saturn) Saturn remains in Dhanishta through March 13 (Mars) Planetary Aspects (transits)
These planetary combinations have the potential to influence all rising signs but when a chart ruler is involved, it can also be of significance.
Have your rising sign handy. If a planet is involved in an aspect with another planet this may influence you more significantly.
Jan 1 Rahu trine Sun (Leo rising)
Jan 5 Sun trine Uranus
Jan 5-9 MercuryR combust Sun (Gemini and Virgo rising)
Jan 8 Mercury trine Uranus
Jan 9 Venus trine MarsR (Aries, Scorpio, Taurus and Libra rising)
Jan 12 Mars stations direct (Aries and Scorpio rising)
Jan 13 Rahu trine MercuryR (Gemini and Virgo rising)
Jan 14 Venus square Uranus (Taurus and Libra rising)
Jan 18 Mercury stations direct (all rising signs but especially Gemini and Virgo rising)
Jan 18 Sun conjunct Pluto (Leo rising)
Jan 21-23 Venus and Saturn in graha yuddha/planetary war (Taurus, Libra, Capricorn and Aquarius)
Jan 29 Sun trine Mars (Leo, Aries and Scorpio rising)
Planet Gazing in January
The fall and winter months are much more challenging to see the planets in the sky, based upon more inclement weather patterns. In case there are clear skies, mark your calendars for these special dates!
Mars: Look for a glowing red retrograde Mars in the constellation of Taurus the Bull this month. It is very close to the Pleiades and you can also catch sight of the another bright red star close by, Aldebaran. Mars stations direct on January 12, look for Mars in the night sky in early January to catch it at it's brightest.
Venus and Saturn: Beautiful and bright Venus and twinkling Saturn are conjunct (and in a planetary war) January 21-23, although still beautiful to observe! Shortly after sunset, look for Venus in the west-southwest. You can spot the dimmer and warmer toned Saturn below Venus. They are closest on the evening of January 22, 2023. They will be visible for only a few hours after sunset. A barely waxing Moon joins the pair January 22, visible just below the two planets. This is a great time to see Saturn since it will be too close to the Sun to see by the end of January.
Jupiter: Expansive and beautiful Jupiter shines brightly this month in the southwest, visible shortly after sunset in the constellation of Pisces.
Find out which transits will be most influential for you in 2023 - schedule your reading for the year ahead here.
Namaste,
Pamela
